Naval Network Warfare Command (NETWARCOM) is the Navy's central operational authority for space, information technology requirements, network and information operations in support of naval forces afloat and ashore; to operate a secure and interoperable naval network that will enable effects-based operations and innovation; to coordinate and assess the Navy operational requirements for and use of network/command and control/information technology/information operations and space; to serve as the operational forces' advocate in the development and fielding of information technology, information operations and space and to perform such other functions and tasks as may be directed by higher authority.

Naval Network Warfare Command (NETWARCOM), the newly established Echelon THREE shore activity, together with 23 subordinate selected naval information technology/information operations organizations, provides a single source of information support to the fleet through assumption of central responsibility and authority over all aspects of information management. The headquarters element of COMNAVNETOPSCOM was incorporated with the operating elements of Naval Space Command and formed the newly titled Commander, Naval Network and Space Operations Command (COMNAVNETSPAOPSCOM), with the remaining COMNAVNETOPSCOM elements at the Nebraska Avenue Complex in Washington, DC forming a detachment of COMNAVNETSPAOPSCOM.

Effective 01 May 2002, the Navy disestablished COMNAVNETOPSCOM and established Naval Network Warfare Command [COMNAVNETWARCOM] and NAVNETSPAOPSCOM DET, revised the title for Commander, Naval Space Command, Dahlgren, VA and realigned selected organizations to report to COMNAVNETWARCOM. The command itself doesn't have a huge staff, but the staff is the headquarters for all decisions, identifications and directions for a global staff of 7,000.

NAVNETWARCOM acts as the Navy's central authority for space services, information technology, network and information operations in support of naval forces afloat and ashore; provisions a secure and interoperable naval network that will enable effects-based operations and innovation; coordinates and assesses the Navy network/command and control/information technology/information operations and space requirements; serves as the operational forces' advocate in the development and fielding of information operations and space technology, and performs such other functions and tasks as may be directed by higher authority.

COMNAVNETWARCOM is dual-hatted as Commander, Naval Space Command (COMNAVSPACECOM) and serves as the Naval Component Commander to USCINCSPACE. The headquarters element of COMNAVNETOPSCOM was consolidated with the Naval Space Command operations elements at Dahlgren.

This three-star flag-rank command is the type commander for Navy networks, and its establishment shows the Navy's recognition that networks, as warfare enablers, are becoming increasingly important to today's warfighter. NETWARCOM will be the central operational authority responsible for coordinating all information technology, information operations, and space requirements and operations within the
Navy. Establishment of NETWARCOM will better align the various staffs needed to support the concept of one naval network and to support that network's end-to-end operational management.

Several commands will be under the authority of the commander of NETWARCOM: Naval Network and Space Operations Command (NNSOC) in Dahlgren, Va.; Fleet Information Warfare Center (FIWC) in Norfolk, Va.; and Navy Component Task Force Computer Network Defense (NCTF CND) in Washington, D.C. NNSOC will be established coincident with NETWARCOM, through the merger of the existing Naval Space Command and the
Naval Network Operations Command. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR)
will report for additional duties to the NETWARCOM commander for matters related to fleet support and execution-year requirements. The commander of Naval Security Group (NAVSECGRU) will serve additional duties as the NETWARCOM director of Information Operations.

Naval Network Operations Command [NAVNETOPSCOM] operated and maintained the Navy's global information technology systems and services, including enterprise networks, through assigned worldwide communications activities and related contracts which support warfighting operations and command and control of naval forces, and performs such other functions and tasks as may be directed by higher authority. The CNO established Commander, Naval Network Operations Command as the single focal point for navy base level communications policy, procedures, and resources; consequently, operation and management of the Navy's Base Level Information Infrastructure (BLII) has become a core mission of NAVNETOPSCOM.

In August 2001 Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Vern Clark approved the creation of the Naval Network Operations Command (NNOC) to oversee the Navy's major information technology programs. The command, a result of the merger of the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Command (NAVCOMTELCOM / NCTC) and Task Force Navy Marine Corps Intranet (TF NMCI), is based at the existing headquarters located at the Naval District Washington complex in Northwest. Capt. Charles G. Cooper, commander of NAVCOMTELCOM, initially took the reins of the new command.

The world is divided into three Naval Communications Areas (NAVCOMMAREAs): Pacific (PAC), Atlantic (LANT), and Central Europe (EURCENT). All communications activities within any of these geographical areas are organized to operate under the operational control of a NCTAMS. These master stations are the major sites in a COMMAREA and are the primary keying stations for that area. They are the entry points for Navy Tactical Satellite Systems and also operate and maintain one or more Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) terminals. The NCTAMSs have, as part of their organization, a fleet telecommunications operations center (FTOC). This is the focal Point for fleet communications support. To support the operating forces of each fleet commander in chief (FLTCINC), the authority to exercise operational direction over all NAVTELCOMs is delegated on an area basis to the commanding offiers of the master stations. Operational direction is decentralized down to the commanding officers of the NCTAMSs. These commanding officers report to and are immediately responsible to the FLTCINC. COMNAVCOMTELCOM, however, exercises overall operational direction to assure integration of the worldwide system, taking into consideration the requirements and priorities of other FLTCINCs and/or higher authority. You should refer to the appropriate Fleet Operational Telecommunications Program (FOTP) manual for futher information. Within the various NAVCOMMAREAs are alternate NCTAMSs. They coordinate control of communications under the direction of the primary NCTAMSs.

There had previously been changes in the claimancy of NAVCOMTELCOM. As a result, each of the former NAVCAMS was redesignated as a NCTAMS, and has merged with a NARDAC. The four NCTAMSs were NCTAMS EASTPAC, Honolulu, Hawaii; NCTAMS LANT, Norfolk, Virginia; NCTAMS WESTPAC, Guam; and NCTAMS MED, Naples, Italy. The world was divided into four Naval Communications Areas (NAVCOMMAREAs): Western Pacific (WESTPAC), Eastern Pacific (EASTPAC), Atlantic (LANT), and Mediterranean (MED). All communications activities within any of these geographical areas are organized to operate under the operational control of a NCTAMS. After 2000 EASTPAC and WESTPAC merged, and NCTAMS WESTPAC at Guam became a Naval Computer and Telecommunication Station [NCTS]

The master stations are the major sites in a COMMAREA and are the primary keying stations for that area. They are the entry points for Navy Tactical Satellite Systems and also operate and maintain one or more Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) terminals. The NCTAMSs have, as part of their organization, a fleet telecommunications operations center (FTOC). This is the focal Point for fleet communications support. To support the operating forces of each fleet commander in chief (FLTCINC), the authority to exercise operational direction over all NAVTELCOMs is delegated on an area basis to the commanding offiers of the master stations. Operational direction is decentralized down to the commanding officers of the NCTAMSs. These commanding officers report to and are immediately responsible to the FLTCINC. COMNAVCOMTELCOM, however, exercises overall operational direction to assure integration of the worldwide system, taking into consideration the requirements and priorities of other FLTCINCs and/or higher authority. You should refer to the appropriate Fleet Operational Telecommunications Program (FOTP) manual for futher information. Within the various NAVCOMMAREAs are alternate NCTAMSs. They coordinate control of communications under the direction of the primary NCTAMSs.

NNOC operates the "Information Technology for the 21st Century" (IT-21), a program designed to upgrade network systems aboard ships. The new command also oversees the Navy's computer network attack and defense work through IT-21 and the NMCI procurement with Electronic Data Systems Corporation. The creation of this command allows the Navy to support the command and control of deployed forces through a network of global information technology systems and services. The merger means that a single organization will be responsible for operation and management of the Navy's voice, video and data networks.

The Navy decided that the public infrastructure for information technology (IT) was mature enough that the could depend on it, rather than own and operate a separte Navy system. The Navy also realized that the IT infrastructure could be treated like a utility that someone else capitalized, operated and maintained. Navy Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) is a Department of the Navy program to deliver comprehensive, end-to-end information services enterprise-wide to the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps through a common computing and communications environment. This environment will enhance system and software interoperability and enhance information exchange capability for garrisoned and deployed forces as well as individual users. NMCI includes everything necessary to ensure the transmission of voice, video, and data information. It includes associated capital infrastructure improvements necessary to meet quality-of-service requirements, as well as maintenance, training and operation of that infrastructure. NMCI work will be performed at more than 300 Navy and Marine Corps bases located across the United States, Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Japan, Guam, Hawaii and Iceland for an estimated 360,000 Navy and Marine Corps uniform and civilian work force members.

The mission of naval communications is to provide and maintain reliable, secure, and rapid communications, based on war requirements, to meet the needs of naval operating forces. Naval communications must also satisfy the requirements of the Defense Communications System (DCS) and the National Communications System (NCS).

The Defense Message System (DMS) has been established as a joint program to integrate common user, organizational and individual messaging and directory services. DMS will provide writer-to-reader messaging services to and from worldwide DoD locations including tactical deployed users, other designated Federal Government organizations, as well as Allied users and Defense contractors. The primary objective of the DMS Program is to reduce cost and staffing by eliminating the resource intensive and archaic Automatic Digital Network (AUTODIN) system. A secondary objective is to improve support and security to the warfighters by implementing advanced messaging and directory services, building on commercial products and incorporating international standards. One of the core elements for successful Navy DMS implementation is the Operation Control Centers currently designated Area Control Centers (ACCs) and Local Control Centers (LCCs). Area Control Centers - formerly called LCC Level 3s - are the focal point for Navy DMS management in a specific Area of Responsibility (AOR). ACCs are planned for NCTAMS LANT, NCTAMS EURCENT, NCTAMS PAC and NAVCOMTELSTA San Diego. The ACCs primary mission is management of the DMS components in their AOR.

The Naval Communications Processing and Routing System (NAVCOMPARS) is an automated system that serves as the interface between AUTODIN or other networks ashore and operational units of the Navy. There were five NAVCOMPARS sites: NCTAMS EASTPAC, NCTAMS WESTPAC, NCTAMS MED, NCTAMS LANT, and NAVCOMMTELSTA Stockton, California. The primary purpose of NAVCOMPARS is to provide security, speed, and systems compatibility for the Naval Telecommunications System (NTS).

COMNAVCOMTELCOM provided administrative management and operational direction to the following echelon III commands:

Three Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Stations

One Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station

One Director, Communications Security Material System

One Headquarters, Navy-Marine Corps MARS Radio Station

One Naval Electromagnetic Spectrum Center

COMNAVCOMTELCOM was a shore activity in an active, operational status under the direct command of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). The CNO's coordinator for NAVCOMTELCOM is the Director, Space and Electronic Warfare Directorate (N6).

The mission of COMNAVCOMTELCOM is to develop, control, and disseminate fleet and shore operating procedures and interface criteria to ensure compatibility for legacy Defense Message System (DMS) automated communication systems and end-user applications with newly introduced systems. COMNAVCOMTELCOM implements Navy Information Resources (IR) Management policy within the claimancy. COMNAVCOMTELCOM provides, operates, and maintains, as required, all Navy ashore communications resources and all non-tactical information resources for command, control, and administration of the Navy and those elements of the Defense Communications System assigned to the Navy. COMNAVCOMTELCOM advises Commander, Naval Space Command of validated communication requirements that may demand development or modification of satellite communication systems. COMNAVCOMTELCOM formulates policy on and exercise authoritative control over the Navy Communications Security (COMSEC) Material System, and review or initiate action in cases of loss or compromise of CMS distribution material.

The word "telecommunications" includes all types of information systems in which electric or electromagnetic signals are used to transmit information between or among points. The Naval Telecommunications System (NTS) is comprised of all the end terminal processing equipment, transmission, switching, cryptographic, and control devices used to transmit operational information in the Navy.

The NTS provides electrical and optical communications from the commander in chief and naval commanders down to all naval forces under its command. You should remember that the NTS is used primarily to exercise command and control over the naval operating forces; not the shore establishment. Most shore establishments are served through the Defense Communications System (DCS). Naturally, there are overlapping portions of each system where necessary.

Operational direction and management control of the assigned elements of the NTS are the responsibility of the Commander, Naval Computer and Telecommunications Command (COMNAVCOMTELCOM).

In naval communications, COMNAVCOMTELCOM determines the responsibilities of each of the various commanders, whether a fleet commander or the commanding officer of a ship. For example, direction and control of all naval fleet broadcasts, ship shore, air-ground, and other direct fleet-support telecommunications are assigned to the fleet commanders in chief. That is to say, all Pacific Fleet naval broadcasts are under the operational direction and control of the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT). The same applies to Atlantic Fleet navak broadcasts. These broadcasts are under the operational direction and control of the Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet (CINCLANTFLT).

Fleet commanders in chief are responsible for the adequacy of communications to satisfy the needs of their respective fleets. They, in turn, assign broad communications responsibilities in the form of fleet operation orders (OPORDs). OPORDs are to be complied with at every level down through individual commanding officers of operating ships. The commanding officers use only those portions of the fleet commander's communications OPORD that affect them. In this simple, yet direct, manner, the NTS is administered at every operational level in the fleet, according to that ship's mission and communication needs.

With the merging of Automated Information Systems (AIS) and telecommunications, the mission and responsibilities of COMNAVCONTELCOM have greatly increased. There have already been changes in the makeup of the COMNAVCOMTELCOM claimancy as communications stations have merged with Naval Regional Data Automated Centers (NARDACs). Those communications stations that do not merge with an AIS activity will become Naval Computer and Telecommunications Stations (NCTSs) or Naval Computer and Telecommunications Detachments (NCTDs).